C.J. Stroud attended Ohio State University for his college football career. He spent his true freshman year at Ohio State redshirting as a backup to Justin Fields, and he played just one total snap in 2020; he scored a 48-yard rushing touchdown. After taking over as a starter his sophomore year, Stroud set records and finished as a Heisman finalist. He holds many school records at Ohio State, including most passing yards in a single game with 573. Stroud was drafted by the Houston Texans in the 2023 NFL draft.